Smog device for automobile engines



Jan. 19, 1965 .A. J. YERMAN SMOG DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE ENGINES Filed Dec. 16, 1963 F/GJ FIG/1 ARNOLDJYERMAN INVENTOR ATTY.

United States Patent O 3,166,062 SMOG DEVEE FUR AUTOMOBILE ENGlNllfi Arnold J. Yerman, 9459 Kaiser Sh, Fontana, Califi, assignor of ten percent to Earl E. Moore, Upland, Calif. 7

Filed Dec. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 330,804

8 Qlaims. (Cl. 123-119) This invention relates to means and ways of materially reducing the emanation of smog producing elements from the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines and the like. When fuel is completely consumed, or nearly so, an engine will not give off smog producing fumes or at least not enough to cause serious contamination of the atmosphere or be a serious threat to the health of a community.

In this invention, the gases above the oil reservoir of an engine are substantially completely consumed after first being filtered in a special device that can be easily attached to any internal combustion engine, or other types of fuel burning engines. The gases are first cleaned of solids or semi-solids and then the gases are conducted into the suction side of an engine and hence into the combustion chamber or chambers to be burned along with the regular fuel gases. This treatment or method of conditioning the gases above the oil reservoir provides additional fuel for the engine and thus a greater economy in the operation of the engine. In other words, applicant has discovered a method wherein normally wasted fuel is converted into useful fuel. This treatment of gases materially reduces the emanation of smog producing elements from the exhaust gases of engines.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide means to substantially eliminate the production of smog during the operation of fuel burning engines and at the same time economize on fuel consumption.

Another object is to economically save fuel consumption for most any type of fuel burning engine and also substantially eliminate smog producing elements so that the exhaust gases from the engine are relatively clean and non-polluting of the atmosphere.

Other objects will become apparent upon perusal of the specification and claims of this application.

In the drawings: 7 7

FIG. 1 shows a portion of an internal combustion type of engine that is common to automobiles, parts thereof are shown in elevation and parts in section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a filtering device with parts thereof in section and other parts broken away;

3,166,052 Patented Jan. 19," 1965 is conducted to anyone of a plurality of intake valves like 7, as shown. Such a valve has the guide sleeve means 8 and the means for operating the valves is enclosed in a housing indicated in general by numeral 9. The spark plug "ice is shown at for firing the cylinder and also is shown the FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one end of the filtering device;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the other end of the filtering device;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a part of the filtering device;

FIG. 6 is also an elevational view of another part of the filtering device;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view, parts in section, showing a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevational View, parts in section, of a detailed part thereof.

The first form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive. The invention is illustrated in combination with an internal combustion engine having the cylinder block 1, engine head 2, and oil pan 3. Mounted upon the engine head there is a carburetor indicated in general by the numeral 4 and since this is a typical downdraft kind or type of carburetor, an air cleaner 5 is attached to the air intake portion of the carburetor. The gas mixture from the carburetor enters the usual intake or suction manifold 6 of the engine from which the fuel mixture top portion ofthe combustion cylinder at711. All these further elaborate upon such an engine in that the particular engine per se does not necessarily form a part of this invention.

The reference character 12 indicates in general a filtering device, housing or tank means connected to a pipe 13 that leads to a union fitting 14 that is screwed into or otherwise attached to the engine head 2 through an opening 15. The lower end of this pipe is attached to a union fitting 16 that is screwed into one end of the filter device by means of threads 17. A small pipe 18 connects. a portion of the filter device with a vacuum gauge 19, the purpose of which will soon be explained. The other end of the filtering device has a removable cap 21 which is fixed to a nipple 20 that is threaded and screwedirito a threaded bore 20' just above the oil pan 3. This bore Zll' may be provided with a baflle above the oil pan, if desired, to prevent oil splashing into the pipe.

The filter has a chamber 22 and near the outlet opening 17 there is a pair of spaced apart walls to provide a vacuum chamber 23. On one side there is a (retainer wing-like device or ring and on the other side'another retainer ring 25. These ringsv are fixed to the walls of the filter in a predetermined position by any suitable means such as spot welding, brazing etc- Positioned next to their respective retainer rings are the coarse meshed discs ,26 and 27. Next to them are the fine meshed discs 28 and foreign materials thatimight be entrained with the gases passing therethrough. Slightly oil waste material, common in machine shops for cleaning purposes, has been found very satisfactory, but it is conceivable that other materials may be employed such as packed wires having minute coils and twists etc. The important thing is that the filtering material allows the gases from over the oil reservoir to pass therethrough but which operates to entrap smudge particles no matter how small which are entrained with the blow-by gases. The burnable gases can thus be cleaned as they pass through the filter and into the suction side of the engine via the intake manifold means 6'. V V

Obviously, the filter device can be placed anywhere near the engine so that it receives the gases from over the oil reservoir and then after filtering the gases, con- Tests made With the smog device of this invention installed on a 1958 Ford, six cylinders, three-quarter ton truck with automatic transmission, and two speed forward, showed an increase in gas mileage between 1.5 to 1.6 miles to the gallon. This Was the result of eight tests, four with 3 the invention installed and four without the filtering device. 1

The compression readings were:

Cylinder 1 Q 130 Cylinder 2 140 Cylinder 3 115 'Cylinder4 125 Cylinder 5 135 Cylinder 6 145 Tests were made from the same tank with Shell regular gasoline. Speed was between 47 and 49 miles per hour. No smog could be detected'from the exhaust pipe. Whenever the filtering material becomes packed with smudge etc. the vacuum in chamber 23 will rise,' in fact, it rises slowly as the packing material 30 slowly becomes filled with debris The enginesucks the gas [mixture from manifold 6 as well asfrom the pipe lS, but when the filler material becomes dirty,'the vacuumin chamber 23 rises. Wheneverthe meter 19 registers a vacuum of a predetermined value, his then time to' Lbs/sq. inf

' with asuitable oil.

vided with a red light that is illuminated whenever there It is recommended that an oil bath filter or breather cap be used with this inventive device so that foreign matter from the atmosphere cannot enter the engine crankcase.. This breather means should be checked every 3,000 miles and cleaned in a suitable solvent and then refilled The meters 19 and 51 may be prois a vacuum of about ten inches in that this would indicate that the filter is sufiiciently clogged topossibly interfere with the economical-operation of the engine Obviously, in accordance with these teachings, a meter need'notbe employed, but a switch provided to turn-on a signal of some kind whenthe vacuum isabout ten inches. Therefore, the meter may be no more than a signallsuch as a flashing light or swing arm upon the dashboard-of anautomobile. 2'

Advantages:

Eliminates nearly 40% of all smoke and gases which otherwise would come from the crankcase; obviously, this depends upon the condition of the engine. Oil fume odors are also materially reduced. Decreases pressure in the the filtering material can be inspected after wiping the glass clean. p

FIGS. 7. and 8 show another form of the invention 7 .wherein a'check valve is, combined with the filter. In this form, the filter tank'or cylinder is indicated at 40 and is shown as having a top removable cap means 41. A pipe 42 connects the filtering chamber 39 with the chamber over an oil reservoir in.theengine by means of the. union fitting 43 and which fitting has a portion passing through the engine wall 44; A drain faucet means 45 at the bottom of thetankis provided to drain the vacuum chamber 46 in the event that water orother "liquid should gather or collect in this chamber; Thev'acuurr'i chamber 46 isformed'by a perforated wall consisting of the retainer ring 47 (similar to the one 24 in the first form of the invention) that is fixed in position,

a coarse retainer screen or mesh 48 (which is similar to the one 25) and'the fine mesh screen 49. (which is similar to the one 23). e

A small pipe 50 connects the meter 51 with the chamber 46 and another small pipe '52 connects the chamber 46 with the vacuum side of an. internal combustion engine by the pipe 52' which serves the same function as'pipe 13 in FIG. 1. Filler material 53 in the tank filters-the smudge particles outof the gas that enters via pipe 42. This pipe 42 is'slanted, as shown, sothat, any oil that may possibly splash into this pipe can drain by gravity .back into the crankcase.

of theinvention operates substantially the same as the one shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive.

This form A check valve is shown at 55 and which check valve may be of the type shown in FIG. *8. A sleeve 56 is 2 connected intermediate the pipes 52 and 52' and within the chamber of the sleeve there is a valve ball 57 that can close the valve seat .at the top end of the pipe 52 in the event that the engine back-fires. The idea is to protect the filter and its fittings from undue pressures. The pin 58 extends across the sleeve chamber to prevent the ball from rising and'getting stuck in the bore of the pipe 52'; It may be desirable toprovide a check valve which not only closes the entrance to pipe 52," but which valve also operates to expose the sleeve chamber to the atmosphere in the event of back-firing.

oil pan and also reduces the oil temperature therein. Im-

proves air ventilation throughout the engine and sends.

unburned gases back to'the firing chamber tobe consumed. A clean firing chamber is thus maintained for perfect combustion. The gas filter may be installed directly on the engine block, the intake cover, the oil pan, the timing chain cover casting, the timing gear cover or on the valve push rod cover.

Certain novel features and details of this invention are disclosed herein, and in some casein considerable detail, in order to make the invention clear in at least two forms thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the I invention, as disclosed, is not necessarily limited to the exact forms and details disclosed since it is apparentthat various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of 'the claims of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A filtering system for internal combustion engines having a crank case with a body ofoil therein and a plurality of power cylinders having suction valves and exhaust valves and wherein fuel is conducted to the suction valves from a carburetor through a passage means; a filtering device,means connecting the. filtering device with an area overthebody of oil, meansconncting the filtering device to said passage means so'that when the gases from over the body of oil are cleaned'in the filtering device they are conducted into said passage means for mixing purposes with the fuel from the carburetor for purposes of saving fuel and to materially reduce smog emanation from the exhaust, the filtering device including avacuum chamber. with a vacuurnregistering meter connected to the vacuum chamber to indicate'the amount of suction in the vacuum chamberand thus the clogging condition of the filtering device, means connecting the filtering device with an area over the body of oil including a check valve to prevent back-firing pressures from the engine from entering the filtering device.

2. A filtering device for gases from an engine consisting of a housing having a plurality of chambers wherein one chamber accommodatesa filtering material and another chamber provides avacuum space, all chambers having passage connections with each other and with 'a pair of pipes for connecting thechambers to the engine, one of the pair of pipes consisting of an ingress duct for the filter and enters the engine at a declined angle so as to drain oil splash therein back into theengine.

3. A filtering device for gases from an engine consisting of a housing having a plurality of chambers wherein one chamber accommodates a filtering material and another chamber provides a vacuum space, all chambers having passage connections with each other and with a pair of pipes for connecting the chambers to the engine, the device including means to drain liquid therefrom.

4. A filtering device for gases from an engine consisting of a housing having a plurality of chambers wherein one chamber accommodates a filtering material and another chamber provides a vacuum space, all chambers having passage connections with each other and with a pair of pipes for connecting the chambers to the engine, a vacuum meter connected to the vacuum chamber for reading the low pressures therein and wherein the meter is located at the dashboard of an automobile.

5. A filtering device for internal combustion engines having an under oil reservoir and a fuel intake manifold, the filtering device consisting of a housing with a chamber therein partitioned with perforated means to form space with filtering material and other space as a vacuum chamher, said device having end openings each connected to tube means, one of the tube means at the end of the device having the filtering material making connection with a point above the oil reservoir and the other tube means making connection with the other end of the device and connected to the intake manifold, a vacuum operated element at a remote location with respect to the engine and having a tube means connecting it with said vacuum chamber so that an operator of the engine can be signalled when the vacuum rises to a high point to thus warn the operator that the filtering material is full oif debris and must be replaced.

6. That recitedin claim 5 wherein the vacuum chamber is intermediate filtering material. V V

' 7. That recited in claim 5 wherein the perforated means is on each side of the vacuum chamber and consist of a disc of fine mesh reenforced with a disc of coarse mesh.

8. That recited in claim 5 wherein an end of the device is fined directly to a wall portion of the oil reservoir.

References Citedby the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,770,094 7/30 Wichersham 274 1,912,235 5/33 Winslow "123-119 1,990,657 2/35 Krieck 12311 9 

1. A FILTERING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES HAVING A CRANK CASE WITH A BODY OF OIL THEREIN AND A PLURALITY OF POWER CYLINDERS HAVING SUCTION VALVES AND EXHAUST VALVES AND WHEREIN FUEL IS CONDUCTED TO THE SUCTION VALVES FROM A CARBURETOR THROUGH A PASSAGE MEANS; A FILTERING DEVICE, MEANS CONNECTING THE FILTERING DEVICE WITH AN AREA OVER THE BODY OF OIL, MEANS CONNECTING THE FILTERING DEVICE TO SAID PASSAGE MEANS SO THAT WHEN THE GASES FROM OVER THE BODY OF OIL ARE CLEANED IN THE FILTERING DEVICE THEY ARE CONDUCTED INTO SAID PASSAGE MEANS FOR MIXING PURPOSES WITH THE FUEL FROM THE CARBURETOR FOR PURPOSES OF SAVING FUEL AND TO MATERIALLY REDUCE SMOG EMANATION FROM THE EXHAUST, THE FILTERING DEVICE INCLUDING A VACUUM CHAMBER WITH A VACUUM REGISTERING METER CONNECTED IN THE VACUUM CHAMBER TO INDICATE THE AMOUNT OF SUCTION IN THE VACUUM CHAMBER AND THUS THE CLOGGING CONDITION OF THE FILTERING DEVICE, MEANS CONNECTING THE FILTERING DEVICE WITH AN AREA OVER THE BODY OF OIL INCLUDING A CHECK VALVE TO PREVENT BACK-FIRING PRESSURES FROM THE ENGINE FROM ENTERING THE FILTERING DEVICE. 